Snappy Poker

Copyright 2006 Marc David

When I was 16, I asked myself this very same question that I received from a frustrated 16 year old. It went something like this…

“A Little Help Please! I am 16 and I am VERY skinny! I don’t have much fat on me so… you could almost see my bones if I am not wearing anything baggy. I only weight 105 lbs and I know I am tooth pick mainly because I don’t eat too much.” – Frustrated and Skinny

You have NO IDEA of how close that cry for help sounds like me. When I was 16, I took a picture of myself in front of the family Christmas tree. Somehow I convinced my sister to take the picture and I flexed with all my might.

For those who are curious to see what I really did look like, the picture is at:

http://www.beginning-bodybuilding.com

Scroll down. You’ll see it. It’s 100% un-edited. I didn’t even remove the glow in the dark plastic eagle necklace I found somewhere.

Anyway, your question was the same thing I wondered myself. I was 16 and tired of being skinny. I thought I did everything I could to gain weight but I was wrong. And I’m going to give you 7 simple steps you can do today to get on the right track to healthy weight gain and make that cry for help, a shout for joy!

If I could get into a time machine I would go back and hand myself a small brochure called:

7 Simple Steps To Beginning Bodybuilding

This would be written by me for me. But I’m positive the next few steps will apply to you as well and any other 16 year olds out there who are frustrated but are in a position to waste a lot of time if they start down the wrong path.

Please don’t be confused… these simple steps are for anybody, no matter what age, male or female, who might be looking to start off on the right foot and not waste a lot of time.

Okay, so what can you do? Let’s go step by step and figure this out.

Pre-Requisite – Body building isn’t just about getting massive. It’s not just for men. The word should actually be two words all the time so there’s no confusion. You are building your body. That can mean anything to anybody. So the first step is…

1. Pick A Goal

No matter what, if you don’t have a short term and long term goal in mind, you’ll just wander around, like a zombie with your arms out, going to anything in sight. And 5 years later, you’ll wonder what the heck happened!

Having a clear goal is the ONLY way to start. If you want to gain, maintain or lose, that is a goal. Know what you want before you start.

You’d be floored to find out just how many people are frustrated with their results but when asked exactly what they are trying to do, they have no idea.

2. Figure Out How Many Calories A Day You Need

In your case, you say you are skinny and tooth-pick like. But in the next sentence you state you know you don’t eat.

[Snap Rubber Band On Wrist Here For Behavior Modification]

When I was 16, I didn’t eat either, I skipped many meals (especially on weekends) and I tried all kinds of protein powders and supplements when I was clearly failing at nutrition.

My mom would cook big meals and I’d barely finish my plate before running off to do something. All the while wishing I was bigger and not so skinny.

There’s so many simple ways to calculate your calories. That should be your very next step. Once you know what you want to do, you need to know your nutritional intakes in order to obtain that goal. It’s not going to be hard at all but if you don’t know, you cannot possibly get anywhere.

In other words, if you don’t know how many calories a day you need for a certain goal, then don’t expect anything different.

3. Figure Out How Much Protein You Need A Day

It’s the building blocks of muscle and it’s also the only way you are going to build more muscle or keep the muscle you already have today.

Even for burning fat, it’s proven that getting enough protein will actually make you leaner.

Again, there’s very simple formulas for this that do not require a degree from MIT to perform. And once you know how much protein you need every day, it’s really easy in Step 4 to find out if you are getting what you need.

These steps will be continued in part 2

Trampolines are a wonderful thing, I don’t know if you have noticed but in the last few years more and more people are getting a trampoline for their backyard. My neighbor got one a few years ago and every time his kids would come and visit the grandchildren would spend most of their time on the trampoline or in its environment.

Some people think that trampolines are mainly used by kids, that trampolines are mere toys for kids to jump around and have fun. People are beginning to discover that a trampoline can be used for physical fitness for children as well as adults. While there is a certain level of convenience associated with purchasing a special fitness trampoline, it isn’t necessary to receive the benefits of trampoline exercise. The same kind of trampoline that is used by children can be used by adults as well.

Working out on a trampoline is very different from any other traditional exercise we know, which makes it a fun activity. The workout is even a little more challenging since most adults need to learn how to master the trampoline, and from my experience, what sometimes looks like an easy task may prove to be much more difficult…

The aerobics associated with jumping on a fitness trampoline strengthens the heart in the same way as other cardio exercises like running and jumping rope. This increase in cardio rate encourages energy use and weight loss. Spending five to eight minutes doing trampoline exercise is like running a mile, only with less time and effort. Trampoline exercise tones muscles in the lower half of the body. The legs, thighs, hips, stomach, and abdomen are all used when exercising on a fitness trampoline. The trampoline workout can also be a fun activity for all the family, it is fun to watch and once you learn how to use it properly you can also contribute your opinion, and improve the workout altogether.

Trampoline jumping improves coordination many athletes and gymnasts use trampolines for this reason. Jumping on a trampoline isn’t just about bounding up and down. There is some level of skill involved in reaching a good height and landing in the right way. As I mentioned before, the mere task of getting the hang of the trampoline is a challenge, although it may take some time, once you get the trampoline basics in your blood, you will be addicted to it, and to the constant improvement in your workout. As you learn to master the trampoline, you will probably get higher and more energy efficient while on the trampoline.

A small trampoline, or rebound trampoline, is ideal for those who have knee injuries. Since smaller trampolines are not designed for high jumping, there is less pressure on the joints during exercise. Other benefits of a fitness trampoline include improvements in breathing through increased capacity of lungs, reduction in stress and tension, lowers cholesterol levels, and increases energy levels. A fitness trampoline is a good way to get exercise for people who have joint issues that keep them from jogging and running.

A trampoline is a great way of staying in shape and enjoying it, why not try to use a trampoline and see if its something you can enjoy?

John Furnem specializes in work psychology, stress relief and time management, after a stress relief seminar held in a gym John started using a trampoline for his workout, John publishes Trampoline advice on the zupatips.com pages

LCD, which usually stands for Liquid Crystal Displays, is a specific type of telly display that has in recent times turned out to be really popular. Liquid Crystal screens lately are repeatedly found in personal computer displays. Additional types of popular TVs would for certain include plasma.

For a substantial period of time tubed tellies were visibly less costly than any specific type of Liquid Crystal Display or Plasma. Consumers trusted and felt comfortable with them and they knew right where they stood with them and for certain the key rationale was because they were remarkably cheap At this instance it’s a different story as tubed televisions have been suspended & been swapped by bargain televisions in the model of Plasma & Liquid Crystal Displays, what had been incredibly pricey are presently startlingly economical and of superb value for currency.

It is presently realistic to buy hi-definition tellies at a remarkably inexpensive price. This is the most modern type of machinery with regards to TVs, Hi-definition products have allowed so many kids to take pleasure in its crystal clear picture and audio. High Definition has taken over analogue broadcasting and replaced it with an all digital system. To see full High-Definition you require a source of Hi-def TV signals, a tuner to receive and makes sense of those signals & a high performance image screen that can mimic the marvellous detail and flamboyant of High-definition TV pictures. You might also need to acquire a TV that is HD compatible, it is feasible at this time to purchase a low costing digital flat screen whether it is an LCD or Plasma that will be able to assist you to achieve this.

With a digital TV you are likely to receive a substantially better picture & technical class. Hence you can now watch anything within the comfort of your own house. Find the best cheap digital flat screen TVs from the Digital Direct website!

There are plenty of us who are just as concerned with getting in shape as we are with losing weight. Choosing home gym equipment, however, means understanding what you are thinking about when you say you want to “get in shape.” When choosing the best home gym and equipment for the job, take into consideration what your ultimate goal is – do you want to tone the muscle you have, focus on strength training or work up to full-tilt body-building? What type of home gym and cardio equipment is best for you will depend on the answers to these questions.

If you are looking for a basic home gym and equipment to primarily tone muscles and provide a nice, steady workout for a wide range of muscle groups, it is best to focus more on details like the variety of exercises. If you are serious about bulking up your muscles and want to get into serious weight lifting, look for a Smith machine home gym with at least a 200 lb. stack weight.

One thing to keep in mind is that home gyms are all primarily for muscle workouts; for a really complete routine you should also consider cardio equipment such as a better treadmill or elliptical trainer as a way to vary your routine and give you a good cardiovascular workout.

Features You Shouldn’t Ignore When Comparing Home Gyms and Exercise Equipment

Home gyms are only worth the money if you get a good return on your investment. Since gym equipment can be quite complex there are several features you need to compare to find the best machine:

Adjustability – Can you target specific areas of your body or muscle groups?

Variety of Exercises – Any good home gym system should offer at least 20 different exercises. Some of the best equipment offers as many as 50; only you can say whether the additional ones are worth the extra money.

Instructions – This sounds simple, but even the best exercise equipment can cause injury if there aren’t clear instructions on how to perform your workouts properly.

Weight Range and Safety – If you are primarily doing toning, you can skimp on the stack weight and invest more elsewhere. If you are into body building or serious weight training, get a home gym with a pressing station that allows you to load the bar safely without having to make numerous adjustments.

Some will tell you that the more traditional home gyms are better than the newer “bow” systems that use weight resistance rather than pure lifting. Just as many will tell you the opposite is true. This is really a matter of preference about the “feel” that you like, and is not nearly as important as the quality of each individual piece of home gym and exercise equipment. Look for solid construction, a good warranty and safety features and you can’t go wrong. Soon you’ll be as buff as you want to be!

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is a freelance writer for Best-Home-Gyms.com, providing
home
gym reviews and consumer information on home gyms,
elliptical machines, treadmills and
recumbent exercise bikes.

Copyright 2006 Best-Home-Gyms.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the
author’s byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

Did you know that the human body is in a constant process of regeneration? Yes, this is true!

New cells will eventually replace every cell that makes up your body today. Your body requires fuel for this regeneration process and the substances you consume on a daily basis provide the fuel. This is just one of many reasons why your nutritional habits play such an important role when you are trying to develop a lean body and midsection. Follow these top ten nutritional tips and you will be well on your way to achieving your goal of developing a lean body and abs.

1. Eat six small balanced meals per day. Every three hours you should eat a small balanced meal that leaves you feeling satisfied but not full. Each meal should consist of a protein source, quality carbohydrates, and good fats. Eating small meals every three hours will boost your metabolism, which in turn will help your body burn more calories and avoid fat build-up. You will also consume fewer total calories per day than if you were to eat three large ‘traditional’ meals per day. Cravings for food between meals will be far less likely to occur and you will also be less likely to over eat during your meals.

2. Minimize your consumption of sugars and other simple carbohydrates. Sugars and simple carbohydrates are often referred to as providing ‘empty calories’ which means that they contain calories but little or no nutritional value. These foods can also spike your blood sugar level and make your energy level fluctuate throughout the day affecting your level of alertness and productivity.

3. Consume quality carbohydrates with your meals. Examples include brown rice, cooked oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, baked potato, and yams.

4. Avoid ‘bad fats’ and consume ‘good fats’ instead. Examples of ‘good fats’ that our bodies need are essential fatty acid’s (EFA’s). EFA’s must be obtained through diet by consuming foods such as fish, nuts, flax seed and sunflower seeds. Minimizing your consumption of saturated and trans fats are also very important and will help you achieve your health and fitness goal.

5. Consume protein as part of your balanced meals. Protein will provide your body with a supply of amino acids into the bloodstream and help repair muscle tissue damaged during strenuous exercise.

6. Consume fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are an important source of essential nutrients that your body needs. Examples include broccoli, carrot, cucumber, asparagus, corn, and cabbage.

7. Drink four to six litres of water per day.

8. Make sure your diet includes a wide variety of quality carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats.

9. Consume a higher percentage of your daily caloric intake during the first half of the day. The reason for this is because your body needs more calories during the day (when you are active) and fewer calories when you are sleeping.

10. Avoid ‘diets’ and adopt a permanent healthy eating lifestyle instead.

Now that you have read and understood what is necessary to achieve that lean midsection you have always wanted the next step is to take the time and dedicate yourself to following through with the nutritional advice. If you would like an exercise program that compliments your new healthy eating lifestyle please visit http://www.1000exercises.com and follow one of our free exercise programs.